Today, the Public Prosecution Service demanded 11 years imprisonment and TBS with compulsory treatment against a 38-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman from Vlaardingen. They are suspected of abusing four foster children. These include a then 10-year-old girl and her sister, as well as two brothers. “How is it possible that as a foster parent you can abuse and humiliate a child who needs your help?”
On the night of May 20 to 21, 2024, a 10-year-old girl was admitted to intensive care in a hospital in a very serious condition. A confidential doctor reported possible inflicted injuries. A criminal investigation was immediately started and based on initial findings, the foster parents were designated as suspects.
Severe physical injury
The foster parents are suspected of four criminal offenses against the girl. Two of these offenses involve intentionally causing severe physical injury by applying external violence and binding and abusing the girl, resulting in severe physical injury.
There are numerous injuries, including injuries to the head, brain, legs, arms, vertebrae, back, and ribs. Many bone fractures were found in the girl. According to the Public Prosecution Service, it is certain that the foster parents are responsible. For example, the foster mother stated that the foster father punished the girl by making her squat and hitting her hard on her thighs.
Form of torture
The foster parents are also suspected of unlawful deprivation of liberty. On confiscated phones of the suspects, investigators found photos showing the girl brutally chained. First, the girl was handcuffed to a play structure in her room. But it became increasingly extreme. The suspects placed her in a cage structure. From the cage structure, an electric wire ran to the wall. The prosecutor: “The way the girl was deprived of her freedom is a form of torture.”
The suspects also provided the girl with insufficient physical care, food, and medical care and did not give her enough opportunity to go to the toilet. The girl had to relieve herself in a bucket when no one was home and she was locked alone in her room. Reports show that the girl was severely malnourished. The foster parents used food as a form of punishment.
Punching and hitting
The sister of the foster girl also stayed with the suspects for a time. She was systematically abused there. This abuse included punching and hitting and pulling the girl up by one arm.
The violence came from both the foster father and the foster mother. The foster mother did nothing to stop the abuse and even protected the foster father by denying the violence and claiming it was fabricated by the foster children.
Doghouse
Earlier, two Syrian brothers lived in the foster parents family. The Public Prosecution Service suspects the foster parents of also abusing them by repeatedly hitting, kicking, throwing objects at them, and withholding food. They allegedly kept the oldest brother in a doghouse.
Unique in brutality
According to the Public Prosecution Service, this case is unique in its brutality. There are no comparable cases, so the sentence cannot be assessed based on previous guidelines or judicial reference points. The prosecutor: “This case calls for retribution for the suffering inflicted on the girl and the other children, but it is not only about retribution; it is also about preventing recidivism in the future.”
“Things went terribly wrong with the girl and the other children in this foster family. Everyone will agree that this must not happen again. Although no sentence or measure – no matter how severe or long – can guarantee 100% prevention of others behavior in the future, everything must be done to ensure these two suspects never again find themselves in a situation where children are victims.”
This means the Public Prosecution Service believes that punishment alone is insufficient and that a measure must be imposed to minimize the chance of recurrence. This aligns with findings from researchers at the Pieter Baan Center, who consider TBS with compulsory treatment necessary. They diagnosed disorders in both suspects that were present at the time of the offenses. These disorders played a significant role in how the children were treated and how the situation escalated. Due to these disorders, both suspects have diminished responsibility but remain accountable.
The demanded sentence takes into account the systematic nature of the acts, committed over a long period and aimed at very vulnerable children, who were systematically dehumanized.
